I’m going to start this review directly with the price, something I don’t generally do. The OnePlus Pad 2 is priced at ₹39,999 for the base model and ₹42,999 for the top-tier version. For a device powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, this makes it the most affordable tablet in India with that chipset. It’s been a long time since OnePlus released such an affordable flagship device with flagship-level performance. Let that sink in for a moment. While you do, I’ll dive into this review and explain why the OnePlus Pad 2 is one of the best Android tablets we’ve tested so far. Hi, I’m Purnendu, and you’re reading Taza Morning, your destination for detailed, incisive gadget reviews.

Display: Bigger, Brighter, and Better

The display on the OnePlus Pad 2 has been significantly upgraded. It now boasts a larger 12.1-inch IPS LCD panel with a crisp 3K resolution and a buttery smooth 144Hz variable refresh rate. However, the odd aspect ratio of 7:5 persists, which isn’t ideal for consuming video content like movies, as you’ll often end up with black bars.

Moreover, there’s no information yet on the type of display protection used here. Since it’s a large panel, I wouldn’t recommend dropping it. On the plus side, the panel is smooth and very responsive with excellent touch sensitivity. Unlike the original OnePlus Pad, which had odd color-shifting issues at extreme angles, the Oneplus Pad 2 handles those angles well, ensuring color accuracy with a Delta E of less than 0.7.

Another upgrade is the brightness, which now reaches 600 nits for typical use and 900 nits at peak brightness in auto-brightness mode. This makes it much better for outdoor viewing, especially if you want to watch HDR videos on YouTube. The HDR performance is handled quite well here, ensuring a decent multimedia experience.

Multimedia Experience: Loud and Immersive Sound

For multimedia, the six-speaker system in the OnePlus Pad 2 is impressive. The speakers deliver rich, loud audio, and OnePlus has introduced an “Omni-Bearing Sound Field” feature, which orients the sound depending on how the tablet is held, either vertically or horizontally. If you’re someone who enjoys watching Instagram Reels or other vertical content on a large screen, this feature will be a delightful addition.

Brightness and Outdoor Usability

However, a significant downside is the absence of a headphone jack. This is surprising for a tablet, where many users expect one. Thankfully, the USB Type-C port is a full-fledged Gen 3.2 Type-C port, and it supports high-end USB DACs. You can also enjoy Bluetooth Hi-Res codecs like LHDC and LDAC.

Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Delivers, But with Caveats

Gaming and General Performance

Of course, the main attraction of the OnePlus Pad 2 is its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, coupled with the Adreno 750 GPU, making it one of the most powerful tablets on the market today. It excels in gaming. For instance, BGMI runs smoothly at 90 FPS, and even during intense enemy rushes, there was no stutter. Genshin Impact, running at the highest graphics settings, delivered an average of 59.2 FPS at 60 FPS settings, while Call of Duty smoothly ran at 120 FPS.

Thermal Management and Storage

One of the standout aspects of the OnePlus Pad 2 is that it remains cool even during heavy gaming. However, the CPU does throttle under sustained load, similar to the OnePlus 12. Additionally, the tablet uses UFS 3.1 storage instead of the faster UFS 4.0, which is a slight letdown for a device in this category. Still, for most users, these are minor issues that won’t affect day-to-day use significantly.

Accessories: Smart Keyboard and Stylo 2

Smart Keyboard: A Mixed Bag

OnePlus offers first-party accessories like the Smart Keyboard and Stylo 2. The Smart Keyboard is well-built and attaches to the tablet either through pogo pins or Bluetooth. I recommend using Bluetooth as it feels more stable; otherwise, the keyboard tends to flop around when used on your lap. The key travel is great, and there are plenty of shortcuts for improved productivity, including a row of function keys.

Stylo 2: Worth It for Creators?

The Stylo 2 stylus is also a noteworthy accessory. With 16,000 pressure sensitivity points, it’s great for sketching and writing. However, its vibration motor, which gives haptic feedback while using the Notes app, doesn’t work consistently across other apps, which is a missed opportunity. The presentation mode also didn’t work well in my testing. Overall, unless you’re a heavy note-taker or artist, the Stylo 2 may not be essential.

Software: OxygenOS 14.1 Is Well-Optimized for Tablets

The OnePlus Pad 2 runs on OxygenOS 14.1 based on Android 14, with the promise of 3 major updates and 4 years of security patches. The software has been specifically tuned for tablet usage, and I was particularly impressed with the Open Canvas multitasking implementation, which allows up to three apps to run simultaneously in split view. It works contextually, making the user experience intuitive.

You also get a persistent dock, file dock (a clipboard-like feature), and App Relay for seamless transition between your OnePlus phone and tablet. However, the lack of LTE support limits the full potential of the tablet, especially for users who want standalone connectivity.

Battery Life: Decent, But Not Exceptional

The OnePlus Pad 2 houses a 9,510mAh battery, which offers around 5 to 5.5 hours of screen-on time under heavy usage. With lighter usage, you could stretch that to around 7 hours, but this still falls short of what I’d expect from a tablet in this range. On the plus side, the tablet supports 67W fast charging and comes with the charger in the box. Charging from 0 to 100% takes just under 80 minutes, which is impressive.

Camera: It’s There, But Don’t Expect Much

As with most tablets, the cameras on the OnePlus Pad 2 are nothing to write home about. The 13MP rear camera and 8MP front-facing camera are functional for scanning documents and video calls, but they aren’t meant for serious photography. The rear camera takes decent shots, while the front camera is adequate for video conferencing. The “Limelight” feature that automatically tracks and focuses during video calls is absent, which could have been a nice addition.

Design: Sleek and Sturdy

In terms of design, the OnePlus Pad 2 retains the sleek aesthetic of the original OnePlus Pad but ditches the dual-tone finish for a full aluminum slab. It’s slim, measuring 6.5mm thick, and the weight is well distributed across the larger surface area, making it comfortable to hold. The antenna bands are cleverly hidden around the camera ring, ensuring seamless connectivity for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.

Unfortunately, there is no LTE or 5G support, which feels like a missed opportunity in a device of this caliber. If you’re a OnePlus phone user, you can share cellular data easily, but for those looking for standalone mobile network support, this omission might be a deal-breaker.

Conclusion

Compared to the original OnePlus Pad, the OnePlus Pad 2 is a clear generational upgrade. It offers a flagship-level Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, a refined software experience, and impressive gaming performance. While there are some drawbacks, like the lack of LTE, missing headphone jack, and UFS 3.1 storage, these issues are relatively minor for most users.

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For those seeking an affordable, high-performance Android tablet, the OnePlus Pad 2 offers excellent value. However, if you’re hoping to replace your laptop for more complex tasks like coding or creative work, this tablet may not be the ideal choice. That being said, if your needs are limited to document work, multimedia consumption, or light productivity tasks, the OnePlus Pad 2 could be a great alternative to a budget Windows laptop.